August 2019 Graphing of the Mudcats At Wood Ducks

The first series in Kinston after I got back from the National was between the Mudcats and Wood Ducks.  I took a bunch of the cards that I found at the National, and got them signed.

This Tristen Lutz was in a box at the National for $2.00.  It turned out really well, and I was happy to get it signed.

I continued to work on my Mudcats set when I got these cards signed by Christian Taugnet and Pat McInerney. 

These Mario Feliciano cards turned out great.  I thought I had gotten him earlier in the season, but I guess I didn't.

I was able to get Brice Turang on a 2019 Pro Debut.  He signed a lot better for us during this series than the past one, so I was able to get some 50/50s done, as well.

I got these two Lutz cards from the National as well.  The left one is the glossy version of his 2018 Heritage Minors, and the right one is a 2017 Bowman Chrome refractor.

I liked this Stars and Stripes relic that I found cheap in a relic/auto box at the show.  I got Devin Hairston to sign it, and I hope to add some of the other guys to it.

My friend, Ben, gave me this Brewers autograph card.  I got it signed by Payton Henry, and it turned out well.

I found more Phil Bickford cards than anything at the National.  I was able to get them all signed, and of course, they all look great.

They're all parallels, and will look awesome in my album.

I was disappointed that there weren't more places that had Bowman parallels at the National, but I was able to find some good stuff.

I finished up my Yanio cards when I got this last custom card signed.  I got it from a Rangers fan that I 50/50 with, and got all of his stuff done.

I found some nice Eric Jenkins cards while at the show.  The above card is a mini 2017 Bowman.  I found some of these of Leody Taveras and Anderson Tejeda that I will put away.

Both of these parallels of EJ turned out well.

I was really happy when I found this 2016 Bowman Chrome Orange Shimmer refractor in a quarter box at the show.  I ran into a bunch of them and hoped there would be someone in there who I could get to sign.  When I saw this Jairo Beras, I was stoked.  I also found this Rize card at a booth that had a bunch of there, and some Perfect Game cards.

These two Michael Matuella cards turned out well.  I like the black refractor from 2015 Bowman Chrome (left).

I had seen someone at a Wood Ducks game with the Bubba Thompson on the left.  I was glad to find one at the National.  I also found the blue parallel from 2017 Bowman.  The blue parallels look great when signed.

Speaking of blue parallels, these two Noah Bremers really look great.  I don't know why I didn't have any of these before, but I was glad to add them now.

July 2019 Graphing Recap of Blue Rocks at Mudcats

This past Saturday, with Chris out of town, I decided to use m rain check for the July 4th Mudcats game so I could catch the Blue Rocks.  Wilmington is the only team that hasn't made a trip down to the Wood Ducks yet this season.  I thought it would be a good idea, especially with Chris gone, to get a few cards knocked out.  That way, I would have a head start for when they finally come to town this weekend.

Also, I stocked up on some Mudcats, and was able to get some nice stuff signed.  The above Phil Bickford was so nice, he even complimented it.  He had never seen the card before.

I had cards from the Carolina League Top Prospects and All Star sets, so that gave me a few guys I wouldn't have had.

I also had picked up two Mudcats team sets, and started working on those.  This year's team set looks really cool.  I'm glad I picked them up.

I also was able to pick up a Midwest League All Star set, so I started in on that, as well.  I'll have to send off a lot of those cards, since they have some teams I won't see, but the cards are still cool, and there are some big names in there.

It took me a while to realize that the Mudcats' Wes Rogers was in 2018 Heritage Minors, but he is really cool, and I was able to get him to sign this.

I had waited a long time to get some of my Nick Pratto cards done.  The above Team USA cards were found at a show, and look really great.

This Bowman Chrome also looks really cool.

I was worried that I wouldn't get this Black Perkins 2016 Bowman Chrome Blue Shimmer refractor signed; he had been called up to AA earlier in the season.  Thankfully (for me, not for him, sadly), he was bumped back down to High A, and I was able to get my card signed.

Scott Thorman didn't seem like he was going to stop for us, but his son told him we were calling for him, and he turned around and signed for Jackson and I.  He seemed nice, though, and signed everything we had.

I have a ton of MJ Melendez, and he signed three of the cards in my book.  This was one of those times where having Chris right there would have really helped.

I misplaced my snap case I had set aside for Lexington in April, so I missed out on some Michael Gigliotti.  Thankfully, Gerard had sent me some in a 50/50, and I ended up with a 2018 Heritage Minors.

Kyle Isbel signed only one card for us, and Kris Bubic was two-per.

Brewer Hicklen signed everything we had.

Finally, the Mudcats were having a promo where the "Soup Nazi" from Seinfeld was there signing autographs.  I'm not much of  Seinfeld fan, but I knew of the character, so I got the team set checklist signed by him.  I even had him put the "No Soup For You" inscription.

Next series is the Mudcats coming down to the Wood Ducks.  Hopefully, the weather will hold out.

May 24, 2019, Graphing of Wood Ducks at Mudcats

Chris and I hit the road this past Friday to go to my parents' to celebrate my sister's baby shower.  On the way out of town, we stopped by Five County Stadium in Zebulon and saw the Wood Ducks take on the Mudcats in a battle of the first and second place teams in the Carolina League Southern Division.  The Wood Ducks held a 3.5 game lead coming into the 4-game series.  The Woodies lost this game, but won the other three, so they now hold a 5.5 game lead in the division and are holding on until the end of the first half.  They hope to clinch a playoff spot, which is very possible.

I didn't have many cards, but the Tristen Lutz cards that I ordered from COMC had come in, and I got those done.  The above Bowman Hi Tek is a blue parallel numbered 68/75.  It turned out really awesome, and I love how it looks.

I also got the Hi Tek base, and a couple Elite Extra Editions.  All of them turned out really well.  Lutz is really nice, and signed everything we had.

I also met up with my good friend, Jackson, who graphs with  us here and there.  He also works for the Wood Ducks, so we see him at a ton of games.  I loved this photo that he posted last year, so without telling him, I made him some Topps custom cards with it.  He really liked them, and finally got around to signing two of them for Chris and I.  I think they turned out really well.  I hope he can put them to use.

Graphing Recap - Mudcats at Wood Ducks

Another Wood Ducks season is under way, and I have gotten off to a great start with my and Chris's graphing.  I knocked out some of the new Leody Taveras cards that I picked up in the offseason.  He is still really tough, but so far, I have been pleased with what I have been able to get signed.

He had quite a bit of stuff in 2018 Heritage Minors, so those cards have been working their way into my graphing book to get signed.  I have expedited my efforts by having folks that I know around me try to get him as well.  I don't think he will be here for very long, so it is a race against the clock to get my stuff done and help some others with their cards.

Noah Bremer has been really cool,  He even commented that he's sure we can't wait to get an action shot to replace the 2017 Bowman Draft portrait.

I am learning all of the new faces, and am try to meet the players when I am able.  A few of the new pitchers look alike, so it has been tough getting them.  Clay Middleton also resembles one of them, so I had to get him once I realized it was him (the catcher's gear helped).

Yohel Pozo was in all of the Hickory sets I had recently picked up, so I was glad to get these done.

I also finished off the coaches from the Hickory and Spokane sets that I grabbed.  At least, I finished off the coaches that moved up to the Wood Ducks.

Tyler Phillips is easy to recognize.  He is a pretty big guy with long hair.  He is also really nice.  He started Opening Day.

I also got Phillips's Spokane card done.

The only Mudcat that I had cards of was Tristen Lutz.  I got everything of him done right away, which was nice.  I'll end up with a Mudcats team set, but that's something I will tackle at a later date.

The biggest takeaway was that I now have season tickets for the Wood Ducks.  I can also use tickets for the games that I miss as free vouchers to get folks in to later games.  So, come on down and catch a game with me!